Method of and machine for making nails



A. BATES.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING NAlLS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 19KB.

Patented May 31, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WVENTU/Q A. BATES.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING NAILS.

APPUCATION FILED AUG.5. 191s.

1,379,61 l o Patented y 31, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

700 /0&

. v AANWMIKZ: i

FICE.

ARTHUR BATES, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR 'IO UNITED SI-IOE MIACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING- NAILS.

1,ave,c11.

Application filed August 5, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ARTHUR Barns, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Methods of and h/Iachines for lVIaking Nails, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to the manufacture of nails and has for its object the devising of an improved method and apparatus for feeding the metal strips from which the nails are formed to the nail making instrumentalities of nail making machines.

The invention will be described by way of example, as applied to the well-known Per' kins tack making machine in which a strip of metal is fed by a carrier to cutters which sever tack blanks from the strip, the strip carrier being rotatable about its axis through an angle of 180 in each cycle of operation of the machine to present the strip in alternately inverted relations to the cutters.

It has heretofore been proposed to supply strips automatically to the strip carrier of a nail making machine thus relieving the operator of the task of replenishing the strips in the carrier and also saving the time which is unavoidably lost, when the strips are supplied to the machines by the operator who tends several machines, by reason of the strips in two or more machines becoming exhausted at or about the same time in which case one or more of such machines must necessarily be allowed to run idly while new strips are being supplied to the other ma chines. It has, furthermore, been proposed to provide such machines with a magazine adapted to contain a group of strips ar- V ranged face to face and designed to be trans ferred one by one from the magazine to the nozzle of the strip carrier. Such machines have not, however, to .applicants knowledge, been commercially used to any large extent due in part at least to the difficulties encountered in the transfer of the strips from the magazine and arising from the very considerable force necessary to transfer a strip from the magazine by reason of the face of the strip being in frictional engagement throughout its whole extent with the face of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Serial No. 248,348.

the adjacent strip in the magazine. Moreover, 1n many of such proposed constructlons, the strip magazine has been constructed as a part of the strip carrier and the weight of the magazine and its contained strips has added much to the power required to operate the carrier and has so overwelghted the carrier as to render impossible the precise control which must be exercised over it in order to insure the proper presentation of the strip to the nail making machine.

It has, moreoi br, been proposed to transfer strips to the carrier from a group of strips contained in a magazine stationarily mounted laterally of the carrier and from which the strips are introduced into the carrier through a slot in the side of the carrier. In the operation of such a machine, however, it is, of course, necessary that the presentation of work to the nail making machine by the carrier be suspended durin the introduction of a new strip into the carrier thus involving a considerable loss of time the extent of which is appreciated when it is considered that a tack making machine handles a large number of strips in a days operation. A more particular object of this invention is to supply strips automatically to a nail making machine or the like in accordance with a method and by means which are not open to the objections above noted and by which strips can be readily advanced from a. magazine containing a group of strips arranged face to face and supplied to the machine without sacrifice of efficiency in the presentation of the strip to the machine by the strip carrier and without suspending the presentation of work to the machine by the strip carrier.

In accordance with an important feature of the invention, a sheet of material illustrated as a strip from which nails or the like are to be formed is confined in such a manner as to bow the strip and place it under stress after which, the strip being located in a position from which it may properly be advanced, an end of the strip is relieved from confinement so that the elasticity of the stressed strip straightens the strip and moves its end forward to facilitate the ad-' the elasticity of the strips straightens them thereby moving the ends of the strips successively into engagementwith devices for advanclng the strip from the magazlne and withdrawing the bodies of the stripsfrom frictional engagement with the surfaces of the adjacent strips of the group of strips in the magazine so that they may easily be advanced from the magazine. The devices for advancing the strips from themagazine comprise a feeding roll mounted appropriately in juxtaposition to the magazine and into engagement with. which the strips move when relieved from the stress under which they are held'by the walls of the magazine.

A second feature of the invention resides in the association with means for operating on a nail strip, of means such. as, for instance, a tubular carrier for presenting the nail strip in different operative relations to the operating'means during consecutive operations of the operating means, and mechanism to which the presenting means is relatively movable and operating in a plane substantially in alincment with the axis of the presenting means for transferring the strips to the presenting means successively from a group of strips supported in contact with each other. Such feature of the invention enables a fresh strip to be transferred to the carrier without suspending the presentation of work to the operating means.

' In accordance with a still further feature of the invention the nozzle by which the strips are guided and which locates them relatively to the operating means carries devices for feeding the strips to the operating means and is slidably mounted for move ment toward and from the operating means in the tubular carrier by which the strips are presented in their different operative relations to the operating means. The movement of the nozzle toward and from the operating means which, in the present use of the invention, is constituted by the cutters of the nail making machine effects the properpresentation of the strip to the cutters and precludes any interference between the nozzle or strip on the one hand and the cutters on the other by virtue of the retrac- Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds.

Inthe drawings Y Figure 1 shows in side elevationa preferred construction of strip-feeding mechanism according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the tubular strip carrier and its associated elements,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the strip magazine and the mechanism for transferring the strips one by one from themagazine'to the strip carrier; f

Fig. 4 is a part sectional end elevation of the strip transferring mechanism, taken on the lin 4.-4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow; 7

Fig. 5 is a true plan of parts on the machine head which determine the position of the forward end of the strip carrier;

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of the camwhich raises the forward end of the strip carrier. 1

- Fig. 7 is an end view of the carrier looking toward its delivery end and showing the form of the strip-guiding passage and its entry; and- V Fig. 8 is a detail view of oneof the gripping members mounted on the strip carrier.

The tack making machine has a fixed lower cutting member on a support 2 (Fig. 1) over the edge of which the strip is projected, the latter passing between guide fingers 3 which engage the edges of the strip and locate it laterally. A pair of moving cutters 4, one of which has just below'it and movable downward in advance of it a stripend positioning stop 5, descend to shear off the projecting portion of the strip which constitutes a blank which is subsequently formed into a headed tack.

The means for presenting the nail strips to the cutters preferably comprises a tubular carrier 6 in which is slidably mounteda noz zle 7 formed with a passage 8 of a transverse cross-sectional contour corresponding with the form of the strip. The tubular carrier is mounted on a bracket 9, adjustable on a vertical axis on the frame of the machine to vary the taper of the tack cut. from the strip. Swiveled on the bracket 9;by a stud 10 is a forked support ll'the arms of which have bearings to. receive trunnions-12. of a more or less ring-shaped member 14 (Fig. 2) which has a U-shaped opening into 7 which the tubular strip carrier .6 is rotatably introduced. Flanges 18 and20 fast on the carrier 6 engage opposite faces of the member 14: and locate the tube longitudinally with respect to the bearings for the trunnions. The tubular carrier 6 is oscillated through half a revolution alternately in opposite directions to present the strip in alternately reversed or inverted relations to the cutters, the tapering tack blanks being cut from the strip with their large ends formed alternately from opposite sides of its median line. The oscillation of the carrier 6 is effected by two straps 21 (Fig. 1) connected to the carrier and to opposite arms of a three armed lever 22.

The member 14 has inserted in it on its face remote from the cutting position a cam 23 adapted to engage with which is a runner 24 mounted on a bar 26 held against rotation relatively to the carrier 6 but guided for longitudinal movement relatively thereto. The slide bar '26 is fast to a tubular member 28 free to slide within the carrier 6 andin the forward end of which is screwed the nozzle 7 comprising a block 30 which is formed with a passage 8 for the strip. The nozzle 7 guides the strip to the cutters. The passage 8 has a flared entry (Fig. 7) defined by inclined surfaces 33 and 34 which conduct the advanced end of a strip into the passage 8 irrespective of the relative dispositions of the strip and passage as the strip approaches the passage. A pin 35 locks the parts 28 and 30 together. The

block 30 is divided longitudinally into two parts (Fig. 7) which are united by a collar 36 (Fig. 2) forced over the two parts and held in place by screws 38.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that oscillation of the tubular carrier 6 about its axis will, through the engagement of the runner 24 connected to the nozzle 7 with the stationary cam 23, reciprocate the nozzle in the tubular carrier toward and away from the plane of operation of the cutters, the arrangement of the parts being such that the nozzle is at the limit of its movement in a forward direction when the strip passage 8 is parallel to the fixed lower cutting member on the support 2 thereby presenting the strip with its face on the edge of said cutting member. The nozzle 7 in its advanced position'insures that the strip will be located in proper relation to be severed by the cutters. When the tubular carrier is oscillated, thus turning the strip from the position above indicated, the nozzle is withdrawn from the cutting plane by the cam 23 as is desirable since otherwise, by reason of the inclination of the stri which causes the blanks to be cut tapering from the strip, the inclined end of the strip would rub against the shanks of the moving cutters. The cam 23 is so formed as to permit movement of the nozzle 7 forwardly when the tubular carrier 6 approaches the end of its 180 movement to present the opposite face of the strip on the edge of the fixed cutter, such movement of the nozzle being effected bya coil spring 40 confined between a collar 42, fast in the tube 16, and the end of the tubular member 28.

Preferably and as shown, the forward movement of the nozzle 7 is caused to feed the strip against the stop 5. In the illustrated construction, such feeding of the strip is accomplished by opposed rollers 44 in tapered recesses formed one in each half of the block 30 within which are springs 46 urging the rollers toward the shallower end of the recesses.

Means are provided for maintaining the strip from retrograde movement when the nozzle is withdrawn from the cutting plane enabling the rollers 44 on the next advance of the nozzle to grip the strip to the rear of the previous point of grip and to feed the strip to the cutters. As shown, such means comprises gripping members 48 pivotally supported on the strip carrier 6 and projected through openings in the same into a slot 49 of the block 30 transverse to the strip passage 8 so as to be capable of engaging opposite sides of the strip. The gripping members 48 have serrated faces eccentric to their pivots so that movement of the members'in a direction away from the cutting plane brings these ends toward each other to clamp the strip and prevent further movement of the strip in such direction. Springs 50 pressing on squared ends of the members 48 normally hold them against movement as aforesaid.

On the support 2 is a stud 56 carrying a roller 58 co6perating with an eccentric cam portion 59 on a block 60 (Figs. 1 and 6) fast on the carrier 6 to raise and lower the forward end of the carrier. A spring 62 on the bracket 9 has a hooked forward end engaging trunnions 64 on a saddle 66 straddling the tube and thus keeps the block 60 pressed on the roller 58. In a bracket 68 fast on the support 2 is a pair of adjustable stops 70, 72 (Fig. 5) between which the carrier moves and by which it is further laterally located and vibrations of its forward end are dampedr In accordance with the invention, the strips which are to be supplied to the carrier 6 for presentation to the cutters are confined in such a manner as to bow the strips so that upon the relief of a strip from confinement its elasticity causesit to straighten out, thus moving its end in the direction of its length and facilitating the feeding of the strip. In the illustrated construction, the confining means for the strips comprises a magazine 74 (Fig. 1) having a flat upper surface 76 (Fig. 3) on which a number of strips repose edgewise. They are confined by the lateral surface of the block or wall 78 against a serrated wall 80 spaced from the confining wall by a distance less than the length of a strip to cause a bowing of the same urging it into the bite of the feed roll hereinafter referred to. The forward ends of the strips are urged laterally toward the feed roll by a presser plate 82pivoted at 84 and engaged by a pin 86 projecting from anarm 88 pivoted at 90 and urged in a clockwise direction looking at Fig. 3' by a spring 92. The arm 88 has a handhold 94., Above the confining wall 7 8 is a ledge 96 which insures the strips remaining seated snugly on the surface 76.

I The magazine '7 4 is preferably stationarily mounted and does not partake of the movements of the strip carrier in presenting the strip in its different operative relations to the cutters, in consequence of which the car,

rier, being relieved from the weight of the magazine and its contained strips, can be controlled to the best advantage and can be operated with the least possible expenditure of power. As shown, the magazine is constitutedby an extension 97 of the bracket 9 on which the strip carrier is mounted.

Carried bythe'extension 97 in advance of the magazine 74 are devices which receive the strips one by one from the magazine 74 andadvance or transfer them to the carrier 6. These devices comprise a driven feed roll 98 spaced from the confining block 7 8 of which is formed the confining surface,

already referred to. The elasticity of the inner, stressed strip straightens the strip when its end is pushed into the space between the feed roll and the confining block and thus moves the released end of the strip in the direction in which the roll 98 acts, thereby'facilitating the feeding of the strips by the roll. The movement of the leading end of the strip resulting from the straightening of the strip is not large but is of sufiicient extent to carry said end of the strip past the most inwardly extending portion of the roll 98 thereby enabling said roll to obtain an effective hold on the strip. The straightening of the strip also withdraws the body of the strip from frictional engagement'with the concave surface of the adjacent strip of the group, thus making it comparatively easy to feed the strip. from the magazine. There is also a pair of supplementary feed rolls one of which, 100, is driven and is fast on a shaft 101 (Fig. 4) journaled in the extension 97 and the other of which, 102, is mounted for free rotation on a short shaft 104 pivoted at 106 and nor mally urged toward the roll 100 by a spring 108. To guide between the rolls 100 and 102 the end of the strip leaving the roll 98, a stud 110 (Fig. 3) is provided in the block 7 8 located to one side of the path of the strip.

The feeding IOllSilOO; and 102 are spaced from therollers 44 of the nozzle 7. by a distance less than the length of-a strip sothat the advanced end of, the strip comes well within the grip of the rollers 44 before its rearendpasses from engagement with the feedingrolls. It is evident, therefore, that each strip during a portion of its progress, toward the cutters is simultaneously under the control of the feeding rolls 98, 100, and 102and "ofthepassage 8 of the nozzle with consequent torsioning of the strip in alternate directions by the turning movements of the carrier and nozzle. The torsioning of the strip only continues for a short time, however, inasmuch as the passage 8 is only a few inches long. The carrier 6, on the other hand, is several feet in length. The operations of the nozzleand the feeding rolls are coordinated in such a manner that the strips are fed one by one to the cutters with the 7 advanced end of each strip contiguous to the rear endof the, preceding strip.

Coupled to the third arm of the three armed strap-actuating lever '22 is a link 112 (Fig. 1) operating an arm 114 carrying a pawl 115 engaging a ratchet 116 (Fig. 3) rotating, through a friction coupling, a bevel gear wheel 118 engaging a second bevel gear wheel 120 on the shaft 101. A pinion 122 connects, a pinion 124 fast on the shaft 101 with a pinion 126 fast onthe shaft carrying the roll 98.

The manner of operation of the strip feeding mechanism will doubtless be fully comprehended from the foregoing description but maybe-briefly summarized as follows:

Commencing theconsideration of the cycle at the time when the moving cutters 4 are at the top of their stroke and the forward end of the strip. is seated against the strip-end positioning stop 5, the cutters 4 descend and shear off the tapering blank. Immediately after the severance of the 110 blank the strip carrier .6 commencesto rotate under theinfiuence of one of the straps 21 and simultaneously its forward end commences to lift under the action-of the cam block 60. Owing to therotation of the tube, 115 the runner 24, comes on to the raised portion of the cam 23 drawing the slide 26 rearwardly and with it the tubular member 28 and nozzle 7. If it were not for the cam block 60, the 'rearward movement of' the 120 nozzle 7 owing, to the serrated ends of the gripping members 48 being in engagement with the opposite faces of the strip, is to swing the serrated ends of these members away from the cutting plane and to cause them to grip the strip firmly, it being understood that the rollers 44 exert a suificient gripping action on the strip to tend to move it away from the cutting point when the block 30 moves in that direction. In fact, until the members 48 have swung suificiently to grip the strip firmly and prevent its rearward movement there is a slight movement of the strip away from the cutting plane which acts to avoid the inclined forward end of the strip bearing on the shanks of the movable cutters during the rotation of the carrier. The gripper members 48 having taken charge of the strip, the nozzle continues its rearward movement for a distance amounting to at least the greatest width of tack to be cut, the rollers 44 pass ing idly over the strip.

Vhen the tube has nearly completed its semi-revolution, the spring 40 advances the tubular member 28 and the nozzle 7, the rollers 44 then gripping the strip and drawing it through the space between the members 48. As the moving cutters are finishing their upward movement, the strip is thus carried forward into contact with the stripend positioning stop 5, the nozzle 7 moving automatically forward under the influence of its spring a distance determined by the width of the blank cut. The cycle of op erations of the strip carrier is then repeated.

When a strip has advanced in the strip carrier to a point such that its rear end passesout of the space between the feed roll 98 and the end of the confining block 78, the pressure of the plate 82 effects movement of th forward ends of the strips in the magazine toward the feed roll and thus alines the end of the inner strip with such space. Until the last mentioned strip is fully straightened, its forward end is maintained against the rear end of the preceding strip and partakes of its movements under the influence both of the feed roll 98 and the elasticity of the strip. The strip being fully straightened, it is fed from the magazine to the strip carrier by the feed rolls 98, 100 and 102. In its advance by the feed rolls the forward end of the strip strikes inclined surfaces 33 and 34. (Figs. 2 and 7) of the block 30 which guide it into the strip passage 8 to follow up the rear portion of the previous strip.

The term nail strips as used in some of the appended claims is not intended by way of limitation but rather to include not only strips from which tacks are formed but also other materials of like'form and properties to nail strips to the handling of which the invention is accordingly applicable.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. The method of feeding sheet material which consists in bowing a sheet so as to stress the same and thereafter releasing an edge of the sheet whereby the relieving of the stress in the sheet projects the released edge of the sheet from its former position.

2. The method of feeding sheet material which consists in simultaneously bowing a group of sheets of material so as to stress the sheets and releasing successively the ends of the sheets whereby the relieving of the stresses in the sheets successively projects the ends of the sheets from their former positions.

8. The method of feeding nail strips to nail making machines which consists in confining a strip so as to bow the strip, and then relieving the strip from confinement so that the elasticity of the strip straightens the strip and projects its end forward to facilitate the advancing of the strip, and then advancing the strip.

4. The method of feeding nail strips to nail making machines which consists in confining a strip so as to bow the strip, moving the strip into a position from which it may be fed and relieving the strip from confinement so that the elasticity of the strip straightens the strip and projects its end forward to facilitate the advancing of the strip, and then advancing the strip.

5. The method of feeding nail strips to nail making machines which consists in confining a group of strips so as to how the strips and then successively relieving the strips on the concave side of the group of strips from confinement so that the elasticity of the strips straightens them and withdraws them from frictional engagement with the surfaces of the adjacent strips of the group of strips, thus facilitating the withdrawal of the strips from the group.

6. The method of feeding nail strips to nail making machines which consists in introducing strips so as to bow the strips into a magazine providing a space for the strips of less length than the strips, successively relieving the strips on one side of the group of strips from the control of the magazine so that the elasticity of the strips straightens them and thus withdraws the bodies of the strips from frictional engagement with the surfaces of the adjacent strips, and successively advancing the strips away from the remainderof the group of strips as they are relieved from the control of the magazine.

7. The method of feeding nail strips to nail making machines which consists in introducing a group of strips into a magazine providing a space to receive the strips of less length than the strips, exerting a substantially constant pressure on the group of strips tendingto move the group in the direction of its concave side, relieving the first strip on the concave side of the group ofstrips at one of its ends from confinement by said magazine so that the elasticity of V the strip moves such end of the strip away means, and means for supplying nail strips 7 successively to said presenting means comprising means for confining the nail strips so as'to bow thestrips, and means for receiving a nail strip from said confining means and transferring it to the presenting means constructed and. arranged for engagement with the nail strip upon relief of said strip from control by said confining means.

9. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a nail strip in operative relation to said operating means, and means for supplying-na l strips successively to said presenting means comprising a magazine for the nail strips providing a space to receive sald strlps of less length than the length of the strips so that the strips are bowed when introduced into said magazine,

1 and means constructed and arranged to receive a nail strip from the group of bowed strips in the maglzine and to transfer it to the presenting means.

10. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a strip to the operating means, a magazine for the nail strip providing a space for the nail strip of less length than the strip so as to bow the strip and constructed to relieve the strip at one of its ends from the control of the magazine when the strip occupies a certain position in the magazine, means for moving the end of the strip into such position, and means constructed and arranged to receive the strip when in said position and to transfer it to the presenting means.

11. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the strip to the operating means, a magazine for the nail strips constructed to receive a group of strips and having a wall for engagement with the ends of the strips and a second wall spaced from said first-mentioned wall by a distance less than the length of the nail strips and arrangedfor engagement with the opposite ends of the nail strips thus providing a space to receive the strips of less length than the strips so that the strips are bowed when introduced into the magazine, a member at one side of the strips and spaced from one of said walls by a distance sufficient to permit the passage of the end of one of said strips between said member and said wall with consequent relief of the tension on the strip and withdrawal of the body of the strip from frictional engagement with the adjacent strip of the group of strips, and means constructed and arranged to transfersaid strip to the presenting means.

' 12. In a machine'of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a strip to the operating means, and means constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of strips in such a manner as to bow the strips and to relieve successively the tension on the strips at the concave side of the group of strips and to transfer said strips to the presenting means.

13. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a nail strip to the operating means, means for confining .a plurality of strips so as to bow the strips, and means for transferring a strip from the confining means to the presenting means comprising a feed roll spaced from said confining means bya distance such as to permit the passage of the end of a strip from the concave side of the group of strips between said feed roll and said confining means.

14-. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a strip to the operating means, means for confining a plurality of strips so as to bow the strips, a feed roll spaced from said confining means by a distance such as to permit the passage of the end of a strip from the concave side of the group of strips between said feed roll and said confining means, and means operable on the convex side of the group of strips and tending to move an end of the first strip on the 'concaveside of the group of strips 1nto the space between the feed roll and the confining means.

15. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a strip to the operating means, means for confining a plurality of strips so as tobow the strips, a feed roll spaced from said confining means by a dis tance such as to permit the passage of the end of a strip from the forward side of the group of strips between said feed roll and said confining means, and a spring-pressed plate operable on the rear side of the group of strips and tending to move an end of the first strip on the forward side of the group of strips into the space between the feed roll and the confining means.

16. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a strip to the operating means, means for confining a plurality of strips so as to bow the strips, a feed roll spaced from said confining means by a distance such as to permit the passage of the end of a strip from the, forward side of the group of strips between said feed roll and said confining means, a pivoted plate operable on the rear side of the group of strips for moving an end of the first strip on the forward side of the group of strips into the space between the feed roll and the confining means, and a springoperated member having a part operatively related to said plate.

17. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a nail strip in operative relation to the operating means, a magazine for receiving a plurality of strips arranged edgew-ise on the floor of said magazine and having walls for engagement with the ends of the strips spaced from each other by a distance less than the length of the strips so as to bow the strips, and means, constructed and arranged to transfer a strip-from one side of said group of strips to the presenting means.

18. In mechanism for feeding strips to nail making machines, a magazine for receiving the strips and having members presenting surfaces spaced from each other by a distance less than the length of the strips so as to how the strips, one of said members being constructed to permit passage of the end of a strip on one side of the group of strips from engagement with said member thus relieving said strip from the control of said members and permitting the elasticity of the strip to straighten the strip and to withdraw the body of the strip from frictional engagement with the surface of the adjacent strip, and means for feeding the strip from the group of strips.

19. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the nail strip in different operative relations to said operating means during consecutive operations of the operating means, said presenting means being formed with a passage for the nail strip, means for operating the presenting means, means with respect to which the presenting meansis relatively movable for supporting a plurality of stripsin contact with each other, and means operating in a plane substantially in line with the passage of the presenting means for removing a nail strip from the supply of strips on said support ing means and for transferring it to the presenting means.

20. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means in alternately inverted relations during consecutive operations of the operating means, means for operating said presenting means, a magazine for containing a plurality of strips arranged face to face, and means supported independently of the presenting means and with respect to which the presenting means is relatively movable for transferring a strip from the magazine to the presenting means without suspending the normal operation of the presenting means.

21. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means, means for oscillating the presenting means to present the nail strip in alternately inverted relations to the operating means, means with respect to which said presenting means is relatively movable for confining a plurality of nail strips, and feed rolls for transferring a nail strip from said confining means endwise into said presenting means.

22. In a machine of the class described,

' means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means during consecutive operations of such means, said presenting means having an axis about which it is movable to present the nail strip in alternately reversed relations to the operating means, means for operating the presenting means, a stationary magazine for containing a plurality of strips arranged face to face, and means operating in a plane substantially in alinement with the axis of the presenting means for removing a strip from the strips in' the magazine and transferring it to the presenting means.

23. In a'machine of the class described,

' means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means, said presenting means having an axis about which it is movable to present the nail strip in alternately reversed relations to the operating means, means for operating the presenting means, a stationary frame, means on said frame for confining a plurality of strips arranged face to face, and feed rolls carried by said frame for transferring the nail strips successively from said confining means to said presenting means.

' 24;. In a machine of the class described, means forroperating on a nail strip, a frame, a tubular carrier mounted on said frame for presenting the nail strip to the operating means and constructedto receive the nail strip at one of its ends and to deliver the nail strip for operation by said operating means at its other end, and feeding rolls journaled in said frame and arranged in substantial alinement with the axis of the carrier for supplying the nail strip to'the carrier.

25. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means, means for movlng the presenting means about its axis to present the na1l strip in alternately reversed relations to the op erating means, and meansoperable by the means for turning the. presenting means about its axis for supplying the nail strip to the presenting means.

26.- In a machine of-the class described,

means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the nail strip to the operating 7 means having a passage to receive the nail strip of a contour corresponding to the form of the nail strip, means for turning the presenting means about its axis to present the nail strip in alternately reversed relations to the operating means, and means for sup- 7 plying the nail strips to the presenting means operable in a plane to which the passage of the presenting means is relatively movable and constructed to exercise control over a portion of thenail strip subsequent to the introduction of another portion of the nail strip into the passage of the presenting means.

27. In a machine of the class described,

,means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a nail strip to the operating means having a passage of a contour corresponding to the form of the nail strip and over the rear end of the nail strip until the advanced portion of the nail strip enters the passage of the presenting means to a distance such as to be engaged by the feeding devices of the presenting means.

28. In a machine of the class described,

means for operating on a nail strip, a tubular carrier, means for operating the carrier to present'the strip in diflerent operative relations to the operatingmeains, a nozzle slidably mounted on said carrier for movement toward and from the operating means and operable to'guide the strip to the operating means and to locate the strip for opera tion thereon by said means, means for operating said nozzle, and feeding devices carried by said nozzle-and operable to feed the strip upon movement of the nozzle,

29. In a machine of the class described,

means' for operating on a nail strip', and

means for presentingmthelnail strip to the operating means comprising a carrier, a nozzle supported by the car-rier'for movement relativelyito the carrier toward and from the plane of operation of the operating means-and operable to guide the strip-to the operating means and to-locate the strip for operation thereon by'said means, means for operating said nozzle, means carried by said nozzle for feeding the strip toward the operating means, and means'mounted on the carrier for malntainlng the V strip against retrograde movement.

30. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip'and means for presentingthe nail strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carrierand a nozzle slidably mounted on said tubular carrler for movement toward and from the plane of operation of theoperating means and operable to guide the strip to the operatingmeans'and to locate the strip for operation'thereon by said means, means for operating sald nozzle, means earned by said nozzle for feeding the strip'to the opcrating means, and means jcarried by said tubular carrier and engaging-the strip to the rear of the-feeding means in the nozzle for maintaining the strip against retro grade movement upon movement of the nozzle away from the plane'of operation of the operating means.

31. In a'machine of theclass described,

means for operating on a nail strip and 'means for presenting the'nail strip to the operating means comprising atubular carrier, a nozzle slidably mounted in SELlCl tubular carrier having a longitudinal passage of a contour corresponding to the former the strlp and a second passage arranged transversely of said longitudinal passage, means carried by said nozzleinjadvance'of said transverse passage for feedlng the strlp,

means for moving said nozzle toward and from the plane of operation of the operating means, and means mounted on said tubular "carrier and arranged in said transverse pasisage for retainlng the str1p against retrograde movement upon movement of the nozzle away tom the plane operating means. 7 H '32. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip and means for presenting the nail stripto the operating means comprising a tubular car rier, a nozzle slidably mounted'in said carof operation of the rier and operable to guide the strip to the operating means and tofllocate the. strip for operation thereon by the operating means,

means carried by said nozzle for feeding the strip, means for turning said tubular carrier about its axis, and means operable by such movement of the tubular carrler for reciprocating said nozzle in the tubular carrier toward and from the plane of operation of the operating means.

33. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip and means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carrier, a nozzle slidably mounted in said carrier and operable to guide the strip to the operating means and to locate the strip for operating thereon by the operating means, means carried by said'nozzle for feeding the strip, means for turning said tubular carrier about its axis, means operable by such movement of the tubular carrier to reciprocate said nozzle in the carrier toward and from the plane of operation of the operating means, and means for supporting the delivery end of the carrier constructed and arranged to relieve the nozzle and strip of the weight of the carrier when the noz zle has been moved away from the operating means.

34. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip and means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carrier, a nozzle slidably mounted in said carrier, means carried by said nozzle for feeding the strip, means for turning said tubular carrier about its axis, yielding means mounted in the tubular carrier and tending to move the nozzle toward the plane of operation of the operating means, and means controlled by the turning of the carrier about its axis for moving said nozzle away from the plane of operation of the operating means against the resistance imposed by said yielding means.

35. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip comprising a stationary cutter and means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carrier, a nozzle slidably mounted in the tubular carrier and operable to guide a strip to the operating means and to locate the strip for operation thereon by said means, means for turning the tubular carrier about its axis, and means controlled by the movement of the tubular carrier about its axis for simultaneously elevating the nozzle above said cutter and withdrawing it from the plane of operation of the operating means.

36. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, a tubular carrier for presenting the nail strip to the operating means, means for turning the tubular carrier about its axis, and mechanism mounted on the carrier adjacent to the delivery end of the carrier and operable by movement of the carrier aboutits axis to elevate said end of the carrier.

37. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip and means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carrier constructed to receive the nail strip at one of its ends and to deliver the strip at its other end to the operating means, means for swiveling the tubular carrier adjacent to its receiving end for movement of its delivery end in a substantially horizontal plane, and adjustable means for limiting such movement of the carrier.

38. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting the strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carrier constructed to receive the strip at one of its ends and to deliver the strip at its other end to the operating means, means for supporting the tubular carrier adjacent to its receiving end comprising a forked member swiveled for oscillation in a substantially vertical plane, and connections between said tubular carrier and said forked member permitting movement of the tubular carrier at its delivery end in a substantially vertical plane.

89. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip and means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carrier, a nozzle slidably supported by said carrier and operable to guide a strip to the operating means and to locate the strip for operation thereon by said means, and means for reciprocating said nozzle relatively to said carrier.

40. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip and means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carrier, a nozzle slidably supported by said carrier and operable to guide a strip to the operating means and to locate the strip for operation thereon by said means, means for reciprocating the nozzle relatively to said carrier, and means comprising a member mounted on the carrier for elevating the carrier and nozzle when the nozzle is moved away from the operating means.

41. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip and means for presenting the nail strip to the operating means comprising a tubular carier, a nozzle slidably supported by said carrier and operable to guide a strip to the operating means and to locate the strip for operation thereon by said means, means for turning the carrier about its axis, means controlled by such movement of the carrier for reciprocating said nozzle relatively to said carrier, and cam means for elevating the carrier and nozzle whenthe nozzle is moved away from the operating means.

42. In a machine of the class described, means for operating on a nail strip, means for presenting a nail strip to the operating ing means to an extent snflicient to permit means, means for confining a plurality of the passage of the endof a strip'between 10 strips so as to bow the strips, said confinitself and the confining means and having ing means having a surface arranged for its axis disposed substantially opposite from 5 engagement with the ends of the strips and the adjacent end of said surface.

means for transferring a strip from the con- In testimony whereof I have signed my fining means to the presenting means comname to this specification. prising a feed roll spaced from the confinv ARTHUR BATES. 

